saying, “Norman,” — that’s my father — “we’ll have to get a motor hearse now that the cars are starting to get thicker.” And by gosh, he got one. And he was the first to be buried in it. He died suddenly. We weren’t quite ready for it, you know, but we made an effort to use the hearse.

Black Bands and Cold Winds

[The funeral processions] would be dandy. [My father had] the high beaver hat. I [wore it] a few times but then it kinda went out [of style] and then I used to wear a black hat, a nice black hat.

Remember old Allan B. Stewart? He’d likely be a pallbearer. He’d be leading out with the chestnut mare. He’d be going first and some old neighbour with him. There’d be six [pallbearers], three [pairs] of them. And they’d have their band on their arm, hanging out over the wagon. Black band. Then there was the mourners, same as now.

I remember going to Wood Islands in the wintertime with the team of horses... And they said it was the nicest funeral in Wood Islands, with the horses, the team of black horses. A grey was leading the procession; John Angus MacLean with the loveliest, pretty grey horse. He led the proces— sion to the cemetery. My horses were pretty frisky; they wouldn’t rear but they’d almost. You’d imagine they were going to set up. It looked nice leaving the funeral. They said it was the nicest one, ’way better than the cars. It looked so cozy-looking.

I remember we buried Alex Campbell’s mother. It was the coldest day we were ever out. You’ve heard of it. I don’t think I was ever out on a colder day. I think a lot of the older ones wouldn’t a been out in it, only that Eddie Buchanan had a fire in the vestry, church vestry, and they got a little sprinkle of warmth. Charlie Morrison had the minister [with him] and he said he’d never have made home only the minister gave him a water-glass- full of whiskey ’fore he left.... He said he was awful comfortable going home.

Old Friends

I had very good luck with me embalming people. I took great pains with them. I was sincere over it you know. That meant a lot, an awful lot.

I often went into [the homes] and I felt pretty blue too. Don’t think I didn’t, for all I was in the business. It wouldn’t make a difference. See, it’s different in a city, in Charlottetown. They don’t know the people, you know. Now Dave Ross down here was a hard job. I wasn’t going down;

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